SMEs to be exempted from radio and television levy
Only companies with 250 or more employees should be required to pay a radio and television license fee. That is the proposal of the relevant committee of the National Council. However, the decision was passed by a narrow majority.
The Commission for Transport and Telecommunications (KVF) approved a parliamentary initiative by Fabio Regazzi (CVP/TI) by 13 votes to 12, as the parliamentary services announced on Tuesday.
The majority of the commission wants to ease the burden on SMEs, with one exception for companies with fewer than 250 employees. In many cases, these companies have high sales but low margins, it argues. Therefore, they are particularly burdened by the levy, which is based on sales.
Only a few would still have to pay
The minority of the commission does not consider a new system change to be appropriate. With an exception for SMEs, only a small percentage of companies would have to pay a levy, they point out. This would unbalance the tax system.
Regazzi argues that "from a purely factual point of view" only people can consume radio and television, but not companies. It is therefore incomprehensible why companies should pay the tax at all.
Companies also benefit
As recently as December, however, the Council of States rejected the idea of exempting companies from the radio and television tax. It opposed a parliamentary initiative by National Councilor Gregor Rutz (SVP/ZH).
Companies also benefit from a functioning and independent broadcasting system, said the opponents of the proposal. If companies were exempted from the levy, private households would also have to pay more.
Analysis in the current year
The electorate approved the levy system at the ballot box in 2015. This also saw the introduction of the company levy, which brings 170 million Swiss francs per year into the fee pot. The Federal Council has announced an analysis of the tariff system for the current year.
The KVF of the National Council also insists on a change in the law to ensure that companies do not have to pay the radio and television levy twice if they belong to a consortium.
For a second time, it has spoken out in favor of a corresponding parliamentary initiative. The sister commission of the Council of States recently decided to suspend work on a corresponding amendment to the law. The announced package of measures to promote the media will probably provide an opportunity to implement the request more quickly, it noted. (SDA)
